Spring Roses By Lorraine Allen

A big welcome to guest blogger Lorraine Allen! Many of you may remember Lorraine when she worked in customer service here at Designs. Now she’s living in Utah and is definitely missed in Dallas. Since I’m on my honeymoon I thought I’d let Lorraine share an easy t-shirt makeover. It’s so simple you can do this right now and wear it tonight! Just grab a tee from your closet, your favorite outline embroidery design and some crystals and you’re on your way to a creative way to spend the day. This is an opportunity to master a technique—whether it’s growing in confidence with layout and design, placing templates, stitching on knits—or all of the above! The whole point of machine embroidery is to have fun.

Open the design in editing software. Print several templates of the design. I used 6 templates for a size medium shirt.

Step 2. Arrange Templates on T-Shirt

Use removable tape to arrange the templates on your t-shirt so they cascade from the right shoulder to the left hip. When you are pleased with the layout, put pins in the center of each template to hold it more securely during hooping.

Step 3. Fabric Preparation

Turn the t-shirt inside out. Cut and place strips of no-show fusible mesh stabilizer over the templates on the wrong side of the t-shirt. Following manufacturer’s directions, press stabilizer to secure it in place.

Step 4. Embroidery

Load the embroidery design into the machine.

Leave the t-shirt inside out. This will make it easier to hoop and handle while embroidering.

Hoop pressure-sensitive stabilizer, keeping the paper side up. Use a pin to score the paper. Remove the paper from the center of the embroidery hoop.

Starting with the design on the right shoulder, position the t-shirt wrong side down the hooped stabilizer so that the cross hair on the first template aligns with the center of the hoop. Use your hands to smooth and adhere the t-shirt to the hooped stabilizer.

Nest the t-shirt around the template to make a little donut. Below is a picture of a different t-shirt to illustrate the tech­nique.

Attach the hoop to the machine. Center the needle over the crosshair and make necessary adjustments.

Remove the template from the design being stitched. Fold back and secure the remaining templates to keep them out of the sewing field. Stitch the first design.

Once the design is stitched, remove the hoop from the machine. Remove the stabilizer from the hoop. Gently tear away the pressure sensitive stabilizer. To avoid breaking stitches, hold onto the stitched design as you tear away the stabilizer.

To stitch the next design, smooth the next template back into position and make sure it is aligned with the stitched design.

When you are satisfied with the alignment, turn the shirt inside out again. Hoop another piece of pressure-sensitive stabilizer and repeat the steps above to embroider the second design.

Repeat this process until all designs are stitched.

To give the illusion that the embroidery goes across the body and ties at the side, I added a ribbon at the bottom left side seam.

Add crystal or silver stud embellishments to complete the look.

This week’s assignment:

We LOVE bling and we want to hear from all of you that also LOVE bling! This week we will give away FOUR Crystal Eye Candy kits courtesy of Design by Dawn. Tell us what you would embellish with your own set of crystals. Four random winners will be drawn and will win one Kit listed below.

Prizes include:
Tropical Kit
Light Kit
Winter Kit
Sweet Kit

Each kit includes 480 crystals– all neatly organized in a handy container. Talk about beautiful, sparkly eye-candy! Plus, you’re getting nothing but the best! All crystals are Crystallized(TM) Swarovski Elements.

The winner of last week’s assignment answered the following question:

What an inspiring individual we have in this week’s winner! Linda Turner took an idea (the “Read” bags featured in Volume 64 Sept/Oct 2010) then put the idea into action. She inspired others to join in a unique endeavor to stitch hundreds of “Read” bags for a children’s reading program.

Share your stories of how you have put your sewing, machine embroidery or crafting skills into action for someone in need. Post a comment for a chance to win a $25 shopping spree to the Designs in Machine Embroidery website.

The winner is…Connie W.

“A couple years ago our Friday night craft class took on the project of sewing pillowcases and donating them to childrens’ hospitals. It was lots of fun putting them together, using all kinds of fun fabrics for kids of all ages. Being able to give to others is always a great feeling!”

93 COMMENTS

cheryl long

Carol Morrow

Carol S

8 years ago

I loved the t-shirt! I would put blink on a pair of jeans that I embroided a design on the side of each pant leg. Also, on a jacket. I have used blink when I embroided a design on a wedding veil for my daughter in law.

Paula Roney

8 years ago

I’ve always loved to sparkle! I bling almost everything I embroider,as well as tennis shoes, the arms of my glasses and all of my purses. I can’t think of many things that wouldn’t benefit from a little bling!!!

Terry

Jorga

Glenda

8 years ago

I embroidery for my granddaughter, who is graduating from nursing school in May, she loves eye candy. I embroidered her name on a bag that she carries to the hospital with all her “stuff”. If I won the crystals I would add bling to her bag.

Kay Skramstad

Pat Villere

8 years ago

Last month I began teaching sewing to the young ladies at the local recovery center for Women (a residential recovery program to overcome all addictions). Learning to sew is teaching them a skill they can use in their future and also serves as community service They have started making pillowcases for the local hospital and the local children’s services organizations. We are all having a lot of fun learning, teaching and sharing.

Marlene Hovagimian

Michelle Rasmussen

8 years ago

I just bought my first tiny bag of crystals and a heat wand yesterday! I am adding them to my embroidered can koozies for an up coming bachelorette party! I didn’t think they would be so easy to use. I love adding a little or a LOT of bling to my embroidery. My next project will be on an embroidered top that I am making for my mom for mother’s day. Would love to add some bling to that!

LeAnne L

Sue F

Janet K

8 years ago

I love using the crystals when I make quilts. It really dresses up the quilt when used in strategic places. I used them in a wholecloth quilt I made and that quilt really sparkled. Sometimes I use the crystals to add bling on purchased t-shirts.

Sharon Aiken

Peggy Schroeder

8 years ago

Hi, I love bling!!! I love putting them on jeans that I have embroidered, it really makes a cheap pair of jeans look expensive. I have a bunch of grandkids, and great grands, and they love it when I embroider something for them and add crystals, beads, or what ever makes it shine.

Eileen, Congratulations on your marriage, I wish you all the best; does it mean you won’t be traveling so much? It is ok if it does, as long as you still come out this way again! My friends and I are looking forward to coming to another one of your Stitching Sisters week-end.

eileenroche

Peggy Schroeder

8 years ago

Great, do you have any plans yet for out here in our great California sun? If it is near our area, we would like to attend another event. I don’t think going three times is overkill, do you? It is just a lot of fun!

Mary Haggenmaker

Barbara Rowlan Wong

8 years ago

I love bling! Until I got my embroidery machine I made crystal designs on all of my tee shirts, jeans, etc. I have a professional heat seal machine just waiting for me to fire it up again. What a pleasure it would be to combine my new hobby of embroidery and embellishing those projects with crystals.

Pat Silvernell

8 years ago

For a friends surprise birthday last week we all brought something inexpensive with bling. I got a duck bill visor and embroidered 2 free standing butterflies. I glued them on either side with bling on top. Then had bought an iron on bling butterfly at Joann’s to iron on the middle. My friend loved it.

jeanne

Mary Catherine

8 years ago

I love bling and think that it can be used on all articles of clothing. Since my granddaughter think that everything I make in my sewing room is for her, I would probably embellish a pair of jeans for her.Something she would get a lot of use out of. She is becoming such a big fashionista.

Shirley R

8 years ago

I would use the crystals to place on one of Embroidery Library’s peacock designs that I purchased. It’s designed especially for crystals. I’d use the design and crystals on either a t-shirt or on the back of a sweatshirt jacket.

Whitney H

Flora T

8 years ago

My daughter who is 11 has started to design tops that she and I sew together. She loves all things sparkly, and loves being able to be an individual in her clothing. I would use the crystals to help her take her designs up a notch!!

Jean Guenther

Cathy Chalk

8 years ago

Eileen, I am using an Anita Goodesign to make Tree-mendous. These crystals will add a fabulous touch to that! I love putting them on my bags and quilts. It makes them sparkle, and when I show them off, the crowd is sure to go…”AHHHH!”

Dale Fedor

Ruby Ridgeway

8 years ago

I am just learning to embroider on my new machine. This is one design I think I can do without my instructor. I already have a t-shirt so will try this desighn this afternoon. I’d been worrying how to aline the designs now I know to make a template . Thanks Ruby

Berenice

8 years ago

OHHH, sparkly is one of my favorite colors! With three girls active in a service organization with 11 other girls, there are lots of opportunities to add a little flash to everything from hoop dresses to matching totes & tees. Those girls love sparkly too!

Patty Sack

Sharyn

8 years ago

If I won the Crystal kits I would cover my granddaughter’s lab glasses. She asked me to embellish her lab safety glasses the other day and I didn’t have enough to do them. I have the hot set to attach them.

Barbara King

8 years ago

I’d use them to put a little glitz in summer T-shirts or maybe awall hanging and then frame it. I’ve been doing sweatshirts all winter and using crystals on some of the designs. Also have done some bags and used the crystals there.

Tina Williams

Lila Smith

8 years ago

I like the tee shirt, hadn’t thought about doing a design on an angle. Lorraine, you are missed! It was always a pleasure to talk with you. Hope your new location is wonderful.

Ilene, congratulations. I wish you happiness and only the best in the years to come. I look forward to receiving your magazine and can hardly wait for a new one to arrive.
I want to make some purses with bling on them.

Freda Falldorf

8 years ago

I also love to “bling” by putting crystals on t shirts, embroideries, and I used them with embroidery on my granddaughters wedding dress 2 years ago. It was a white dress she made, with a lavender triangle
inset on the left front. I did stipple all over the triangle (took me 14 hours) and embroidery designs on the white skirt beside the panel and all around the bottom of the dress. We together also put crystals at various locations and on the border of her veil. It turned out beautiful and somewhat glitzy.

Donna G.

Kathy Schmidt

8 years ago

there are so many things I would love to embellish but the first thing I can think of is my saddle blanket, love to ride in local gymkhanas (barrels etc.) & my flashy paint Lily deserves a flashy saddle blanket

Sue G

8 years ago

Wow, what a wonderful idea. I make beach tote bags with beach towels attached and I embroider on them. These embelishments would just add so much more to them. It would add that special bling that it needs.

Doreen

Marge Geraci

8 years ago

I am fairly new to the machne embroidery family. I have gotten the bug right now that all I want to do is different projects. Boy, most of them would realy look cool to have some bling on them. That’s what I’D Do! I’d just make everything sparkle, sparkly! What Fun!!!

Minerva Rios

8 years ago

I would embellish t-shirts and a blouse I plan to embroider. Also, a summer hat with an embroidered ribbon w/flowers and bees attached to it and a handbag to match!Last time I used hot fix cyrstals was to decorate three ceramic Kings Men I painted for my brother. They looked beautiful w/their jewels! I use them on everything, cards, clothes, crochet, ect.

Clem

Mary Lou

8 years ago

I’m going to be making this shirt tomorrow. I have all my supplies ready and waiting for me. I’m so excited to add some “Bling” to it. The hardest part is to decide what color to do the embroidery on a white Tee. Black is always classy looking with the “Bling”, but thinking of doing it in another color though. What should I do, what should I do? LOL It’s going to be pretty whatever I decide. Thank you for such a pretty and unique design I also purchased from Embroidery Library, my favorite place to go.

Mary Lou

8 years ago

I just made this Tee and it turned out beautiful. I also put some bling on it and can’t wait to wear it. My shirt is white, and I used a pretty light goldish/tan thread. It has silver bling beads, and small goldish looking beads which I hand sewed with invisable thread. I going to get a turquous shirt next and make the same shirt with the same design and more “Bling.” Can’t wait to get started on that one.

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